Birthday dinner at Tojo's

This entry marks my first attempt at Blogging. This blog has been created for me as a birthday gift. Where it will lead is still unknown at this time. I suspect it will be a combination of where and what I have eaten, cooked and various food experiences.

Last night D. took me for my long awaited Birthday dinner. Long awaited because she actually "gave" it to me last year and I have been semi-patiently waiting ever since. I cannot get too mad though since it is an expensive place and I have yet to fulfill her Birthday dinner from last year either!

Although D. had not reserved a place at the sushi bar, that is "the" place to be at Tojo's. When seated there Tojo decides what to serve you and will continue to do so until you say you have had enough. Luckily there were 2 seats left and we were seated in them. After settling in, Tojo came over, asked us if we had any dislikes and/or allergies so that he could formulate a personalized collection of dishes for us.

We started with his signature dish of diced tuna in a wonderful soy sauce marinade. Topped with sesame seeds, this dish is yummy. This was followed by a deep fried shitake mushroom that was stuffed with mushroom mousse and topped with grated daikon radish coated with a spicy spice mix.

a geoduck cone with a special sauce mixed in came next followed by a brand new creation of Tojo's which consisted of a stuffed crab shell containing crab, scallops and salmon diced and covered in a creamy sauce -sort of like a motoyaki but the sauce was thickened with bits of potato and had edamame mixed in.

Next came a sushi roll composed of crab, and chopped shrimp rolled in a paper thin egg omlet instead of the traditional rice and seaweed.

Our last dish, baked sablefish -- formerly called black cod, while wonderfully tender, was not as tasty as the one I make. (yes, mine is that good:-) --Thanks to former neighbours M. and H. for the recipe which I promise to post someday.

Dessert was a sorbet under which was finely diced melon and papaya. A perfect raspberry and one sesame cookie adorned it. It was a lovely light ending to our dinner.

During our last course a lone man sitting next to D. at the sushi bar started chatting with us. He had been given a special sake drink by Tojo when he sat down. It looked very very odd. and D. asked him what it was. Turns out it was warm sake with a piece of blowfish fin infusing it (not the dangerous part of the fish). A lid was on the glass to keep it warm and to help infuse the sake. Although He offered to let us taste the drink and we did smell it, D. who is not a sake drinker had no problem turning down his offer. I too turned him down although one day later I cannot imagine why I did so! Silly, silly me!

Happy Birthday

This blog is a birthday gift to me. I love food and cooking so we'll see how well the blogging goes.